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S. LOE.

KEYBOARD MECHANISM FOR VGTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 14u24, 1911.

f1,.04=,580.v Patented May 27, 1919.

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S. LOE.`

KEYBOARD MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICAYION FILED MAY 24. l9l7.-

Patented May 27, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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S. LOE.

KEYBOARD MEICHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY2 |911.

Patented May 27, 1919..

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KEYBOARD MECHANISIIII FOR' VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24H91?.

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sYvEE LOE, OE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOE, EY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To LOE MULTIPLEX VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OE MINNE- APOLIS, MINNESOTA, A' COEPOEATION OE MINNESOTA.

KEYBOARD MECHANISM FOB VOTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application tiled May 24, 1917. Serial No. 170,723.

To all lwhom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, Srv-"ER Lor, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota,have invented certa-in new and useful Improvements in` Keyboard Mechanism for Voting-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description'of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to Iprovide an improved keyboard mechanism adapted for use as a part of a voting machine of the general character disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent, 1,039,419 of date, September 24, 1912, entitled Multiplexvoting machine. The present keyboard mechanism, however, is particularly designed for use in connection with the voting machine mechanism disclosed and claimed in my companion application filed of even date herewith, and entitled, Voting machine.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings :-r

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing a. portion of the keyboard and its frame work;

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are plan views of the elements that make up a` com-plete register actuator, said parts being separated; Figs. 2a, 3, 4a, 5, and 6a are views in side elevation respectively of the said parts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, some parts in Fig. 3 being broken away; n

Flgs. 7 and 8 are views in elevation with some parts broken away and some parts sectioned, showing respectively the hub, and sleeve members of one of the vote limiting devices; E

Fig. 9 is a front elevation with some parts broken away and some parts removed, showing the keyboard mechanism proper;

Fig. l0 is a horizontal Section taken approximately on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section taken approximately on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a Section taken approximately on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a detail in front elevation showing several of the interlocking blocks that make up the body ofthe keyboard;

14 is a plan view of parts shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of one of the interlocking skeleton blocks of the keyboard;

Fig. 16 s a rear elevation of the block shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of the block shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of one of the end filler blocks;

Fig. 19 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 20 is a vertical section taken approximately On the line 20-20 of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 21 is a detail in elevation of a device for extension voting. Y

The keyboard proper is made up of a multiplicity of interlocking duplicate skeleton blocks or sections constituting in themselves an important feature of this invention. These duplicate interlocking blocks which are preferably cast structures, cast in steel dies and, hence, very accurately formed, are indicated as entireties by the numeral 21, and each thereof is formed with an intermediate front sleeve 22, an intermediate rear sleeve 23, and diagonally opposite reduced ends 24, the latter being formed with sleeves 25. The reduced ends 24 of adjacent blocks are adapted to overlap and each reduced end is provided with a depending dowel lug 26 that enters a dowel pin seat 27 formed in the underlying blocks, thereby securely interlocking the said blocks.

For a multiplex voting machine such as that disclosed in my said prior patent, the said interlocking blocks will be put together to form three independent segmental keyboards, and the gaps at the ends of the end members of said blocks will, preferably, be filled in by filler blocks 28 such as shown in detail in Figs. 18 and 19. These iiller blocks 28 have sleeves 29 alined with the sleeves 25 and they are provided with dowel lugs 30 and dowel seats 31 that perform the same function as the said lugs 26 and seats 27 of the blocks 21.

The segmental keyboard formed by the interlocking blocks 21 is adapted to be rmly held together as a unit by means of a` clamping frame, as Shown, made up of upper plates 32 and lower plates 33 and vertical tierods 34. The said tie-rods 34 are preferably tubular and they are passed with a close fit through the alned sleeves 25 of the blocks 2l. Nuts 35 in the upper. and lower ends of the tie-.rods 3 4- rigidly clamp the upper and lower @pla-tes 32 and 83 onto the upper' and lower "blocks 21 rand thus firmly unite the whole group of interlockingV blocks. Of

course, when the rods 34 are removed, .the

'interlocking blocks 21 may be readily sepasary here to consider, will'be applied in this threaded sleevemember upper frame. In Fig. 1 the voters operating crank 37 and a signaling arm 38 areshown, vbut these parts need not be .here con'- sideredlinasmuchas vthey are moreully Ydisclosed and claimed in my companion application above identified.

vEach register actuator (-seeparticularly Figs. l to 6a .and F ig. 10) is Vmadeup of a finger actuating lever or key 39, a register actuating Ylever 40, an adjusting collar 41, a hub 42, and` preferably, vbut 4not necessarily, of an Vindependent vote,`V so called, lock washer 43. Y

TheY vote limiting mechanism is a modification of, or improvement on,'that disclosed and claimed .in my prior Patent, No. 712,079,

v'of date, .October 2S, V1902, entitled, VVoting machine. Fachexpansible element of said Vvote limiting mechanism comprises an externallyI threaded hub ,44v and internally The `hub members 44 at their lower edges have projecting flanges formed with dialnetrically opposite notches 46, and at Vtheir upper ends they are formed with projecting angular shanks 47 that have longitudinal slots 4S. The vsleeve members 45 have Vcircumerentially4 spaced Alongitudinal external ribs 49 that engage, but slide, through internal notches49fL of the so-called adjusting collars 4,1 which klatter Ysurroundthe same `when the partsare assembled, as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 1-1. The yhubs-,44 aremade -hollow and formed with angular interiors into .which the Aangular shanks 47 of underlyinghubs are v,telescopedo so that when one Vofthe hubs is locked against rotation, all of the `hubs of thatvcollar will also be locked against rotation but the several hubs .will Vbe free for vertical sliding movements, one upon the other. The means for thus anchoring these hubs against rotation and for limiting the Ievpanding movements thereof, willl be considered a little later on.

As noted, one of the adjusting ,collars 41 works on each lexternal sleeve 45. One of the register actuatinglevers 40 is `mounted on each lcollar 41, and each such lever is provided with an overturned .end 40a Ithat has a segmental cserrated inner endthat adj ustably interlocks with a. serrated flange 41a on the ing `vertical movement, the lever l40 may be set circumferentially in any adjustment V011 .the collar 4l that maybe desired. Each le .may be'moved from its inoperative position into an operative position :l'or action on a corresponding register, allras .more clearly Vdisclosed in =my. said prior Patent, No. 1,039,419. Y Y

Thesleeves .45 of .the vote liinitingdevices are mounted ,to .work in the inner sleeves .a3 ofthe respective blocks 21 and their ribs 49 quite closely .engage the interiors thereof so .thatthe said sleeves formV the pivots on .which the levers 40,oscillate. vSaid sleeves 45, however, are free -for vertical sliding movements within the sleeves 23..1The backs of the sleeves-23 arejcut away at V5.0 l(see Figs. 9, 13, and ,1;7) so that access can be had `to the ,sleeves45 ,to adjustfthe same, and the lower intermediate portions ofsaidblocks arecut away at 2,1a .to afford clearancefor movements of 44the levers 40 and also V,to afford ,clearanceforthe.adjustingcollar 41.

The hubs42,arefprovided near their upper ends .with-:outstanding :flanges that merge into Va .radially projecting lug 42a. These hubs42 are.rotativelymounted in the front sleeves 22 of the respective .blocks21fand their upperfflanges and projecting lug 42L work in reduced upperedge portions of said front sleeves. The `ringer ,actuated levers 39 Vare rotatatively kmounted on the extreme Vupperend .portions of .the hubs 42 andV rest on the iiange thereof and work through slightly reduced or lowered front edge suraces formed in the front sides of the said front s leeves22 Aso Lthat the -front ends of .the said levers l39 .project beyond ,the Aface of the Akeyboard .W1161fe,th ey ma)7 be Aengaged by the lingers.

Y rIjjhe vsaid levers39 are provided .with voutst anding portions that lare formed with downturned lugs 39b that are adapted to-be engaged .with the llugs 4 2a ofthe respective hubs 42 under conditions hereinafter noted. `(See,particularly Figs. 5 anda.)

'd lhefhubs 42 are Y:formed with Vangular axial passages and corresponding angular .resetting ,shafts l51 are passed vertically therethrough. These shafts 5.1 at their .ex-

treme upper ends and justabove the upper plates V32 are providedwith pinions 52 that are engagedby raoks .(not shownfbut which are operated .by means, Aor in the manner more fully disclosed in my prior application `entitled AVoting machine and above referred to. In Fig. 12A, numeral 53 indicates a ,bushing applied around the hub 42 to keep .the same `centered in `respect to thesleeve 22 in which it mounted to rotate.

The so-called lock-washers '43 are interposed between the hubs 45'and are located one directly 011 top of each levery 39. These lock washers .43 have elongated angular openings that lclosely fit` the angular shaft 51 on two sides, but vare 'capable of sliding thereon, but must always rotate with the said shafts. Each such washer'43 has la lug 43a that is engageable with a notch 43b formed in the lever 39. Normally, the lock washers 43 are set so that their lugs 43a do not engage with thevnotches 43b of the levers 39 and hence, normally, the machine will operate just; as if thek said washers were not provided. l

When the machine is iset for an election, the register actuators and the expansible vote limiting devices will be separated into groups and the expansion of each group of expansible devices will be limited by suitable stops. These stops vare preferably in the form of stop pins54 which are passed through perforations in certain of the blocks 21 and through the alined lower endnotches 46 of the lower hub of the group, and throughV` the alined slot 48 of the upper hub of the group, as best shown in Fig. 20. In Fig. 20, the group is shown as adjusted to vote for two candidates where two political parties are represented and Where there are two eXtra actuators and expansible devices for the two possible independent votes, making a group of six actuators and six ex pansible vote limiting devices.'

In this adjustment of the'group there is suflicient play between the expansible vote limiting' devices to permit two actuators, and only two, to be moved from normal to set positions, and the movementof two keys or actuators will take up ally the slack in the group, and thestop pins 54 will then become effective to prevent a third key of that group from being operated. v

Inthe position of the parts shown at the left in Fig. 10, the lugs 42'* of the hubs 42 are against the depending lugs 39b of the levers V39, and the actuators are then locked in normal positions. Before the actuators can be released. for operation, `the shaft 51 must bemoved so as to .carry the lugs 42 into the position shown at the .right in Fig. 10. lll/'henV the lugs 421 are at the position shown at the right inFig.r 10, the actuators are released and maythen be set, in any desired order, ysubject only to the control of the vote limiting mechanism.- r To simultaneously restore the' set actuators to normal positions, the shafts-51 are simultaneously oscillated by means. disclosed in my said companion application, entitled, Voting machine so as to move the lugs42 from the position shown at the'right in Fig. 10, back lnto the position shown at the left in Fig. 10.

Assuming now that the voter desires to cast two independent votes for., thev ofice to which the group shown in Fig. 20 is assigned, but for parties not represented on the ticket; assume also the two lowermost actuators are assigned to independent votes for that group. In this case, he notifies the judge of his intention, and the judge will then move the two lower actuators for that group into set positions, thereby taking up all the slack in the group of expansible devices so that no furtheractuators of that group can be operated by the voter, and then by a suitable instrument, such as a blade, pushes the lock washers 43 of the two lower actuators inward or backward so that their lugs '43 will engage the notches 43b of the levers 39 (see Figs. 5, 6,' and l0) and thereby locks the two independent'vote actuators to the corresponding shaft 51 and in their set positions. The judge then hands the voter two cards or disks upon which he may write the name of the person for whom he desires to vote land also the olice to which he desires him elected and which in the assumed instance is in the ofice to which the group Fig. '20 is assigned. The voter will then drop his written ballots into a suitable box, not shown. Here it should be noted (see Fig. 4a) that the hubs 42 are provided in their upper ends with clearance notches 42b by which notches 43a may be moved into and out of en agement with the notch 431. It will also e noted that the slotted arm of the lever 40' is provided with a. cam lug 40c which, when the actuator is moved from its set position, shown at the right, into its normal position, shown at the left in Fig. 10, engagesthe inner end of the corresponding lock washer 43 and forces the same outward and back to its normal or inoperative position.

Fig. 21 illustrates a device for extension voting, that is for voting for a number of candidates for the same oliice where the .number of candidates represented is so great that it cannot be taken care of in one column, or where for other reason it must be extended from the one column into an adjacent column; for example, suppose that it is possible to vote for six judges at an.r election where there are four political parties represented, making a total of twenty-four candidates to be represented in the column, and for whom kit is possible to vote to the extent of six, but no more.

The plan on which the extensible screwthreaded elements expand between stops to limit the number of possible votes to be cast for a candidate in a group has already been described. To carry this expanding action from one column to the other, an up right rod 55 'isextended through one of the tubular columns 34 that is between adjacent columns of the expansible vote limiting devices. At its upper and lower ends, the rod 55 is provided lwith radially projecting armsV 5.6 that ivork through .openings in head `brackets- 57 .secured .to the upqoer 4and lower @plates .32 and :3.3 respectively. "Elie end .of #the arm 56.1has a ydepending .stem 56a that Works through the top .plate .32 vand engages :the ertendedsleere t7 .of therappermost hub .4e of f the one column .ofrenpansible elements?, and the end ,of the einer arm 56 Vhas an upwardly .extended .stem 5 6.b that Works .through the lower plate 3 3 vand engages .the hub of ,the lowermostexpai-.isibleelementoffthe adj acent column .of both limiting devices. 'The/external .sleeve .member e5. 05E .the lefthand ,column of ,expansible elements, .as shown in Fig. 2 1, reacts against the Lupper plate 32 While fthe hub of :the lowermost .expansible element of the right- .hand column re-acts against the flower V,plate 33. 'llhc .expansible .devices Will .beso set that the Yplay.rbetween the .same ,Will permit just the properV number ,of '.register actu.- ators lto .be movedibefore athis `play .is taken up. After all theplay is taken up iin ithe lefthand column, -or example, fthen .the downward ,movementnimparted .to the .rod and heads 56, acting through the Vstems 56a and 56h, will 'take up all .of lthe =playin the :.righthand .column yof actuators, ythereby Y preventing movement ,ofany further actuing it is possible Ato -vote for six and that three of :the expansible Note limiting de,- vices in the lefthand .column yare operated by Vsetting of `corresponding actuators, then there .Will still .be 4left zin the .righthand column .of .expansible devices, .suicient play to .permit three of the ,voteflimiting .devices therein to vbe expanded .by manipulationof the corresponding register actuators; `but when six expansible devices .have ben eX panded in the one .Way or `the other, .either in oneo vthe columns or the other, or `p artly in both of the columns, .then it will be limpossible to set any further actuators 4of .the

group. Y

'What I ,claim is:

l. i'lhe combination Vvvitheupper and lofWer plates and vertical -tieerods connecting Ithe same, of Va keyboard frame made upof a multiplicity ,of interconnecting blocks having sleeves through which .thesaid rods are passed, vand register actuators mounted said blocks and .projecting thererom, said blocks .atV their :adjoining edges having clearance passages .for the said'register actuators. f

2. In a voting machine, 4the combi-nation With .upper .and Vflower plates and tie-rods connecting .the same, of a keyboard frame made up Vof a multiplicity lof duplicate, .interlocking, skeleton blocks, said blocks ,at their .ends 'having reduced and overlapped ends formed with the sleeves vthrough which said vtie-rods are passed, ,the said blocks at their int.ermediateiportions haiiugiimeland outerV sleeves, zand register actuators 00ml pulsing .inner-.andeutetginteroonneotedletters and iezepansible Note limiting devices, said latter l.losing .mounted in the inner @leeres 7,0 oi Said blocks-.and Athe .said inner leviers loe-Y ing connected thereon, .the said .outer Ilevers hengrparotalfly lilou-'ated atfthe outer sleeres of said gblocksand projecting therefrom.

k3- .'allhe combination with a keyboard trame .mafie np of a multiplicity of :interconnected, interchangeable., skelet-.on :blocks Vsaid blQOlS having lr'lillr v and Outer kSleeves at their intermediate-portions, .of ,expansible vote limiting devices comprising "internelly yand ,.externalb threaded :members: the latter .fleeing mounted tor rotary .and vaxial mdvements vvithin `the innen asleeres olf said blocks, ,resetting shatts extended fgthrough the router vsleeves .ofasaid blocks, ,provided with hubs rotatable therewith, register .actuators comprising connected inner and .outer levers, the flatter beingV rotatable with :the

external members ,1o-f said vote limiting `.de-V vices, the said .outer levers being fpiroted on lthewhnbs .of said resetting shattsfiand Capable ,of independent movements from normal @to setpositions, and-means .Whereby the set yactuators, avillabe restored t.to normal :positions by ,rotation .of .said resetting shafts. Y

A.. The ,combination .alikeyboard frame -fmade up .D- a multiplicity oi inter.- connected, interchangeable, j.skeleton xblock-s, said Eblocks'ihaving Vinner .and ,outer sleeves at their intermediate portions, of .expansible vvoterlimiti-ng ,devices `comprising :internally andzextemially .threaded members, Ifthe latter .fbeing mounted for rotary and axial movements'avithin the inner. sleeves .of :said blocks, resetting Yshafts Vextended through the ,outer .sleeves .of sa-id blocks, lprovided With hubs rotatable therewith,-register actuators comprising r'connected inner and outer levers, the latter'ibeing `rotatable with the externalpfmernbers .of .saidzvote limi-ting devices, the said outer leversjbein pivot/ed on the hubs off :said resetting-salitre, and capable of independent `'movements from normal to set positions, ymeans whereby the 115 set Yactuators Will be `.restored to normal lpositions iby rotation of y.said .resetting shafts, and" .flock .washers VVnm'm'ally `*inoperative but adapted to ibe anoved to zlock 4said -A actuator ilevers .to said resetting shafts vand in 120 normal ,postions.

V5. .1n `a voting machine, :the :combination Wei-th :the :keyboard iframe and :oscillatory resetting shafts mounted therein, ef register .actuators comprising ilevers .pivote'd :in 12'5- respect .to said resetting shafts, and lookV devices normally ninoperative but adapted to be moved l'to lock said :levers 4 to said resetting .shafts and in normal positions.

6. 'In a voting lmachine, the .combination 1130 with independently operatable register actuators, of individual lock devices whereby, at will, any one of said actuators may be locked in its normal position Without intertering with the action of any othery actuator.

7. In a voting machine, the combination with independently operatable register actuators, of individual lock devices whereby, at will, any one of said actuators may be locked in its normal position without interfering with the action of any other actuator, and vote limiting devices coperating with said actuators.

8. In a voting machine, the combination with a keyboard frame made up of superimposed and interconnected blocks, of vote limiting devices mounted in the respective blocks, each vote limiting device comprising internally and externally threaded members, the latter having angular stems telescoped into the externally threaded members of adjacent vote limiting devices.

9. In a voting machine, the combination with a keyboard frame made up of superimposed and interconnected blocks, of vote limiting devices mounted in the respective blocks, each vote limiting device comprising internally and externally threaded members, the latter having angular stems telescoped into the externally threaded `members of adjacent vote limitingk devices, the said stems having perforations, and lock pins insertible through certain of the said slots and through seats in the said frame to connect said vote limiting devices in groups and to limit the expansion of the group.

10. In a voting machine, a stack'of expansible vote limiting devices made of internally and externally threaded members, the latter having telescoped angular portions.

11. In a voting machine, the combination with adjacent stacks of expansible vote limiting devices, of a device for extension voting comprising a vertically movable rod having at its opposite ends projecting portions serving as abutments to limit the expansion of the two stacks of vote limiting devices in opposite directions.

12. In a voting machine, the combination with two stacks of expansible vote limiting devices made up of internally and externally threaded devices, of a device for extension voting comprising a vertically mov able rod having projecting arms at its upper and lower ends, the said upper larm having an abutment serving to limit the upward expansion of the one column of vote limiting devices, and the lower arm having an abutment serving to limit the downward expansion of the other column of vote limiting devices.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SYVER LOE.

Witnesses:

CLARA DEMAREST, BEnNIoE G. WHEELER.

Copie: of this patent my be obtlined for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patentl, Washington, D. C. 

